In the aftermath of the Vermont shooting that targeted three students of Palestinian descent, Hisham Awartani, a 20-year-old junior at Brown University, expressed his perspective in a text message read during a vigil at the Ivy League campus. Awartani, the most seriously injured victim, highlighted the broader context, stating, “I am but one casualty in this much wider conflict.”
In his message, Awartani drew attention to the potential disparities in medical treatment, emphasizing, “Had I been shot in the West Bank, where I grew up, the medical services that saved my life here would likely have been withheld by the Israeli army.” He urged attendees to consider the larger picture, emphasizing that any attack, whether in the U.S. or Palestine, is equally horrific.
Awartani’s words underscored his identity as a member of an oppressed people, urging those present to focus not just on him as an individual but as part of a community facing adversity. The shooting occurred during a Thanksgiving break visit to Burlington, Vermont, near Awartani’s relative’s home, with two friends, Tahseen Ahmed and Kinnan Abdalhamid.
The suspect, Jason James Eaton, a 48-year-old from Burlington, was arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree attempted murder. Awartani’s mother, Elizabeth Price, provided an update on his condition, mentioning a lodged bullet in his spine and uncertainty about his ability to walk again.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, with officials exploring the possibility of it being a hate crime. The incident unfolded as part of a backdrop of increased hate incidents and attacks following a conflict between Hamas and Israeli forces.
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During a vigil at Brown University, President Christina Paxson addressed the shooting’s horror, acknowledging the challenges of controlling global events. However, her speech was interrupted by students demanding university divestment from Israel, reflecting the complex emotions surrounding the incident.